The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1887-10-29

would hand the tiny fDiry to the car
riage with the grace of a ccurtier, aud
when she smiled sweetly and said,
"ANerci, Papa Raoui," or "Yseult,"
they would blush like big boys. Her
expenses were so trifling In comparison
with the funds In the exchequer Of the
paternai organization that It was re-
solved to invest certain sum anuu-
ally, and SO on her fl:th birthday, for
they had selected birthday for her,
she was as well cared for little girl as
any in the State; and as for beauty,
why 10 ask the question was to elevate
to the zenith the eyes Of her twenty
two fathers and TO bring to their mouth
twenty-five right hands with finger
tips punched together, which they
would kiss as II the flavor were divine
and simultaneously calculate, "conin,c
o." The truth Is that her big black
eyes, delicately chiseled face, symmet-
rical limbs aud dignified bearing made
her appear as of royal rather than ple-
bian blood, and she led her followe.s
by silkcn cords, young as she was.
Then came the day hereinbefore
mentioned. The assemblage at the
Cafe Bienvenu--the silence aud the
anxiety. -Four days before Delice had
complained of feeling ill,-her head
nched aud her eyes were inflaned.
-Four doctors were ut once sent for, and
after consultation 1t was announced
that Delice had the scarlet fever. Her
nurse aud guardian occupied large
private residence near Miguel's, aud so
1t was that the cafe was made the
headquarters Of Les P0issons RoMges,
that news might be received every few
minutes. AT first there were no serious
symptoms, but on the third night she
grew worse. She asked for Theophtte,
Raoui, jules, Henri and the rest of her
beloved papas. These big bronzed fet-
lows would close tho gate gently, walk
on tip-toe down the garden walk be-
tween the cameilias, and cross the We
rauda SO quietly the cat could not hear
them.
In the little room au angel face look
cd up from It's nest Of soft pillows, and
a smile played about the crimson,
feverish lips. She held out her hand,
spoke few simple words, aud the ST.
across the street to Miguel's with
lump In his throat and his eyes much
intlamed. Then matters began to grow
more serious. No vehicles must pass
that way. There should be more quiet
over at Miguel's. and bulletins would
be sent to the cafe every hour, 30 that
they might know how Delice was
progressing.
About 2 o'clock that afternoon the
young gentlemen werc startled by the
slalnming Of window shntters over at
Mile. Deltce's. They rose from their
tables, leaving their orgeat untRsted
and started for tho sidewalk. They
stared over. OLD Latiche was opening
all tho windows up stairs. Why was
this? Then a little negro girl came
running toward Miguel's, Theophile
Latrere met her and before she could
speak commanded her silence. "4Nes
an,is," said he, "the news need not be
told. We know what it is. There is
no longer need Of silence. We are
childless." There were sobs in tho
cafe and many wet eyes. The parro,
as II recognizing that 1t was no moro
under restraint gave an experimental
"caramba," and finding that II pro.
duccd no sensation repeated 1t.
Two by two they marched across 10
tho house, with hat in hand. Up the
gravetIy walks tho Il,tto procession
came and on into tho large chamber.
They gathered about the bedside and,
almost unconsciousty, they crossed
themselves az IL in the presence of an
angel. The little bed became shrine,
and their waxcn beauty with smile
on her white face, their Deiice, n
saint.
Perhaps mothers face had wei
comed the sweet child beyond the
breakers, and tt mothers hand had led
her up a strand whittier than the snowy
beach OF the Chandeleurs.
"She camo from very far" whis-
perei Henri Xavier from the foot of
the bed. The Creoles thus beautifully
express the Idea that one has narrowly
escaped death in Infancy.
$50 very, very far" responded Jules
Ncron.
The sunlight wrought In rare design,
with jasmine leaves, n tapestry OF
shadow on the wall beside tho bed.
The little clock on the manicl beat its
uc-tac, tic.tac 80 loudly that each
stroke touched the heart. The wind
from the garden below came softly in
its lap filed with tho perfume of flow.
crs, and Il mockingbrd on tho Chin
uey over the way dropped some tender
notes that were go eXquisitely sweet
that The men looked at ore another y,
they stood around the bed, as if voice
from another world had spoken. les
Ioissons It0a,ycS had now no mission
left. The bond that had held them to-
gether was severed.